Shipping crate



Aug. 11, 1936. w. R. GRAHAM 2,050,791

SHIPPING CRATE Filed Dec. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Shee. 1

ATTORNEYJ, i

W. R. GRAHAM SHIPPING CRATE Aug. 11, 1936.

2 sheets sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1934 63 0 9W3; ATTORNEYJ',

Patented Aug. 11, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CRATE William R. Graham, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Hinde and Dauch Paper Company, Sandusky, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 15, 1934, Serial No. 757,631 1 Claims. This invention relates to a shipping crate par-- ticularly adapted to be made of corrugated board,

and intended especially for the protection during shipment of such articles as do not need 5 to be completely enclosed in a stiff covering, but which may be sufficiently packed for shipping by having end and edge protection of substantial material, which may or may not be supplemented by paper or other covering on the otherwise exposed panels.

Among the aims of the invention are:

The construction of a crate of the indicated characteristics, adapted to be made from such materials as corrugated board or the like, combining the features of light weight, strength, and resiliency;

Economy of material;

The manufacture of a crate of possible large overall dimensions with parts of small individual dimensions;

Simplicity of constructionand ease of assembly of the crate;

A crate of the character indicated, capable of being shipped in fiat condition and readily assembled without the necessity of machinery or of skilled labor; 'A crate of the character indicated, in which the elements'interlock for assembly, with a minimum use of adhesive or other fastening elements.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. 9

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principles of the invention may be used.

0 In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the improved crate as applied to a relatively long article of rectangular cross section;

Fig. 2 is a section through the edge channel on the line 2'2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a perspective illustrating'the end arrangements of the edge channel;

Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 4 but relates to the modification shown in Fig. 3;

4 Fig. 6 is a perspective of an end cap and edge channel, showing the interlock;

Fig. 7 isa vertical section on the line 1-! of Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; a

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the same plane as Fig. 7 but showing a modified arrangement.

The principal elements of my crate consist of edge protecting channels I, and end caps 2 which enclose and interlock with the ends of the channels. By this formation, as will be seen in Fig.

l, the ends and the edges of the shipped article 10 are completely protected, leaving exposed side panels such as 3 and 4, which may, if appropriate, be covered with paper or other material.

The edge channels, which in the exemplifica- 15 tion shown, are rectangular to fit the corners of a rectangular object, may be either of single sheet material, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or of multiple thickness as indicated by the reference character IA in Figs. 3 and 5. Where of multiple 2O thickness the extra boards IB and IC will preferably terminate a distance short of the end approximately equal to the width of the opposite side of the channel, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to allow the necessary folding for interlocking. 25

Each of the edge channels is out along the-angle fold line inward from each end as at 6 a distance about equal to the side width of the channel, as best seen in Fig. 6, and is grooved as shown at I and 8, thus hinging two end tabs 9 and 3 ID, on each end of each edge channel, which tabs can be folded across the end of the channel, interlocking with the structure of the end 2 as described below.

locked position. These laps are further grooved as at M and I5 parallel to the hinge line so as to form an under tuck l IA and an over tuck I I3 by bending the lap II on itself at each of the grooves l4 and I5, so that the edge l6 finally lies 50 nearly under the hinge line, more or less, according, to the width of the lap II In establishing the interlock between the elements 9, l0, and H various orders of arrangement may be followed,

but the one preferred as combining ease of as- 55 sembly withgood locking and cushioning effects is that shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, wherein the tabs.

- shown in Fig. 1.

Analternative folding arrangement, perhaps a little more difficult of assembly, but increasing the locking effect, is that illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein both tabs Band II] are'caught between the under and over tucks HA and MB. In this form, even if the outer laps come undone, the tuck laps H cannot open as long as the packed article is remains in position, because, unless the tabs l0 tear away along their hinged lines 8, the interlock cannot unfold.

Whichever way the interlock is made, the ends of the packed article are cushioned by five layers of corrugated board, four of which are shown superposed in Figs. 7 and 8, and the fifth is the outer lap.

Besides the cushioning and fastening effect of our carton, a great saving of material is accomplished, because only those portions of the article which particularly need protection are covered. The height of the end caps need only be suflicient for the strength required in accordance with the characteristics of the article being packed, and the width of the wings of the edge channels I need only be so much as necessary to thoroughly protect the edges and bear against the sides over an area sufiicient to prevent breakage or displacement of the channel.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention combines a saving of material with a desired interlocking and cushioning effect, and concentrates material at the positions where most needed. Furthermore, my invention enables the box maker, using sheets of material of standard size, or even of relatively small size, to

protect articles having dimensions greater than' the governing dimensions of the original sheet, or even greater than the standard widths in which corrugated board is commercially manufactured.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A shippingcrate comprising separate edge protecting channels and separate end caps, laps forming parts of said caps, said laps being adapted to interlock with the ends of said channels, and certain of said laps being adapted also to cover said channel ends.

2. In a shipping crate comprising a cap and edge protecting channels, interlocking means comprising an inner lap within said cap and two tabs on the end of said channels, said lap being in the form of a double tuck having one part hinged to the cap body, and another part hinged to the first-named part, said hinges being parallel, said second-named part when in lockedposition being held between the article contained and one of said side strip tabs with the hinge between 1 overlapping the said first-named tuck part, and

further closure laps adapted to close over all the =said tabs and trucks, thereby closing the crate.

3. A method of. crating which comprises protecting opposite ends of an article by separable covering pieces distinct for each end, and protecting the edges of the articles intermediate said ends by pieces which cover said edges but not the sides of the article, and interlocking said'edge protectors and said end protectors by the act of closing the end protectors. I

4. A shipping crate comprising angled corner strips, caps each having sides depending over an extent of the ends of said corner strips, the junctions of said sides forming longitudinal angles which fit over said corner strips, the ends of such caps comprising tuck flaps transversely hinged to certain of said sides, and plain flaps transversely hinged to others of said sides, said corner strips terminating in tabs separated along the junction line of the strip angle, said tabs adapted to be folded transversely into facial contiguity with said tuck flaps; said plain flaps being adapted to overlie said tuck flaps and terminal tabs, thereby closing said crate with smooth ends.

5. A shipping crate comprising angled corner strips, rectangular caps each having sides depending over an extent of the ends of said corner strips, the junctions of said sides forming longitudinal angles which fit over said corner strips,

the ends of such caps comprising tuck flaps tabs, thereby closing said crate with smooth ends.

WILLIAM R. GRAHAM. 

